Isotropically articulating fence post and gate system

ABSTRACT

An articulating fence post and gating system, which resiliently articulates from an upright position, perpendicular to the ground, to a flattened position, parallel with the ground, is described. The gating system comprises at least one resiliently articulating fence post, where the posts are connected by strands of fencing material. The gating system may be disposed with a standard stationary fence or an articulating fencing system. The gating system of the present invention avoids damage from a collision between farm equipment, such as a mobile irrigation system, and the fence by having the gating portion resiliently articulate, from an upright position to the ground, in order to allow the mobile equipment to run over the gate portion without breaking fence posts or snapping strands of fencing material. Once the equipment completely rolls over the gated portion of the fence, the gated portion automatically returns to its upright position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/399,126 filed Sep. 20 1999 for an IsotropicallyArticulating Fence System that relates to a radially articulatingfencing system and post, which application is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an articulating fence post for afencing or gating system and, more particularly, to a radiallyarticulating fence post and gating system.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Farmers and ranchers use fences, walls, hedgerows and otherboundary markers to demarcate territory, and to control ingress andegress of persons and animals from and to the territory boundaries. Withthe advent of large cattle and sheep ranches, particularly in theWestern United States, fences are used primarily to restrain domesticlivestock from leaving a fenced-in or enclosed area. These fences aretypically built from four or five horizontally spaced strands of barbedwire, or smooth wire mounted on wooden fence posts that are driven intothe ground. A single fence, often stretching for miles, is used todelineate a “range” or “pasture” where herds of cattle, or other grazinganimals, are confined.

[0006] In recent years, the use of fencing to delineate multi-purposeland utilization has become more prevalent in all regions of the countrymaking ingress and egress from these restricted areas more of a concern.In all areas of the country, multi-purpose land use methods have broughtcrop cultivation and the raising of livestock together on the same land.These multi-use methods involve dividing a tract of land into severalparcels and rotating the function of the parcels between cropcultivation and livestock feeding. These methods typically involveconcentrating dense populations of livestock, such as feeder cattle anddairy cattle, on one parcel while crops, such as grains and seeds, arebeing cultivated on the others. Since cattle fed in this manner are inhigh density, barbed wire fences, and fences that have electrifiedstrands of wire, are needed to confine the cattle in the parcel.Multi-purpose land use methods have gained widespread acceptance in theagriculture business because they generate increased yields of tablemeat from cattle by providing abundant food supplies for fatteningcattle prior to slaughter.

[0007] With the requirement for increased agriculture production,especially in arid climates, sophisticated irrigation systems andmethods have become a necessity to increase acreage yields. Today, thesesystems are usually automated, using computers, and can cover extendedacreage without being manned. Water pressure and electricity arecommonly used to provide the energy to move these systems. Theirrigation systems have mechanized means of movement such as drivewheels mounted under spray irrigation carriages. A pivotal irrigationsystem, for example, is anchored at a center point and rotates aboutthat point on large cleated wheels, mounted under a spray irrigationcarriage, to sweep out an irrigation circle, which can be a mile or morein diameter.

[0008] The close proximity of cattle pastures and domestic crops createdby modern, multi-purpose land use methods have put an unforeseen burdenon irrigation systems. Typical stationary fence posts, necessary forseparating cattle pastures from growing crops, greatly hinder themobility of irrigation systems over a tract of multi purpose farmland.Large irrigation systems designed to efficiently irrigate large tractsof land, such as pivotal irrigation systems, become impractical ifstationary fence posts obstruct them.

[0009] One approach, which allows a fenced area to be irrigated, hasbeen to place gaps in the fence, which are wide enough for the cleatedwheels of the irrigation system to pass. Unfortunately, the cleatedwheels are so wide that the gaps in the fence are large enough to letlivestock, including cattle, pass as well.

[0010] Another approach is to have crews move the fence in the path ofthe irrigation system and then replace it. This is labor intensive andexpensive. It would therefore be advantageous to have fence posts thatcould articulate under the force of the moving irrigation system wheels,yet be resilient enough to retain livestock. Unfortunately, there are anumber of problems associated with such a system. First, the fence postsmust be able to yield to the force of the cleated wheels and articulatefrom its upright position, perpendicular to the ground, to asubstantially flattened position that is parallel with the ground.Second, the fence system must maintain the strand integrity to keep fromsnapping wire strands as the fence articulates.

[0011] There are additional problems with prior art fence post systems.Those that have some kind of resilient means, such as a springmechanism, which allow the fence posts to spring back to an uprightposition after being knocked down by the irrigation system, are hingedat their base so as only to pivot in a single plane. If an irrigationsystem does not approach the fence post from a direction that isperfectly aligned with the articulation direction of the fence postsystem, then the irrigation system imparts side loads on the fence postsand can cause permanent damage to both the fence post and irrigationsystems. This problem is particularly acute for the widely usedirrigation systems that rotate around a fixed center point. Thesesystems commonly exert side load forces on the fence posts, causingeither the posts or the wire strand to break or to be damaged.

[0012] Additionally, with large expanses of fencing, used primarily torestrain domestic livestock, ingress and egress is cumbersome, requiringa passer to open or close a conventional gate. Western style fences ofbarbed wire, or smooth wire mounted on wooden fence posts which oftenstretch for miles, require remote gates to allow ranchers or farmersaccess to the fenced area. When irrigation is required on part of thepasture the need for more frequent access points increases.

[0013] Presently, there is a need for an articulating fence post forfencing systems as well as and gating systems to facilitate passage ofthe irrigation system and accommodate the side loads exerted on thefence by the irrigation system. This need is especially great for fencepost and gating systems which have delicate strands of electrifiedfencing wire which are easily snapped under the strain of an impingingirrigation system that moves along an arc that is not perpendicular tothe fence line. In addition large expanses of fence posts, whetherarticulating or not, require gates which allows ease of ingress andegress. It would be advantageous to have a fence post for a fencingsystem and a gating system, which would collapse and then right itselfupon passage of a vehicle or the like without damage to the fence lineor the post.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] It has now been discovered that the problems encountered withprior art gating for stationary and articulating fencing systems can beovercome by the present invention. In the broad aspect of the presentinvention, the fence post is a resilient, isotropically articulatingmember, which supports or facilitates gating systems for both stationaryand articulating fencing systems. In accordance with the presentinvention, the fence posts resiliently yield to forces exerted insubstantially all directions, including directions other than thoseperpendicular to the fence line.

[0015] In accordance with the broad aspect of the present invention, anisotropic fence post resiliently yields to an object (e.g., a mobileirrigation system or a ranch vehicle) approaching the fence post fromany direction, even a direction substantially parallel to a fence line,as defined by the fence posts. The articulating fence post yields toobjects resistively. For example, the fence post will resiliently yieldto a mobile irrigation system, or in the case of an articulated gatingsegment, to a ranch vehicle, but not to the force of a cow movingagainst the fence or the gate. The resistance to a force pressingagainst the articulating fence or gateposts is variably set, causing theposts to substantially yield only when a preset amount of force isapplied. For example, the resistance can be set such that the force of astrong wind or cows will not cause the posts to articulate, but theforce of an impinging irrigation system or a ranch vehicle will causethe posts to articulate.

[0016] The gating system of the present invention has at least onearticulating post and preferably three posts, including at least oneresiliently articulating center post that is aligned between a pair ofend posts, wherein a fencing material is strung between adjoining posts.The at least one center fence post of the present invention is aresilient, isotropically articulating member that preferably includes ashaft adapted for affixing flexible fencing material; a resilient,isotropically flexible member having a top end for rigid communicationwith the shaft and a bottom end for rigid communication with a baseelement; and an anchor element, permanently and immovably connected tothe base element, for anchoring the base. The fencing materialpreferably comprises strands of wire, either single strand or braided,including strands of electrically conducting material for electricfences, and strands of barbed wire.

[0017] In accordance with the invention, the articulating posts can beused as fence posts or gate posts. For example, the end fence postelements of the system of the instant invention can be resilientlyarticulating, or they can be rigid, non-articulating supports. In oneembodiment, the end fence and/or gate posts are non-articulating. Itwill be realized that in accordance with the invention the end postelements may also form the apex of a comer that is formed from twolinear segments of fence, which are joined together at an angle (i.e.,the end fence post is a corner post). At least one segment so joined canbe radially articulating.

[0018] In accordance with the present invention, the resilient,isotropically articulating fence posts have an isotropically flexiblemember for allowing a shaft to resiliently articulate between a positionsubstantially perpendicular to the ground, and a position substantiallyparallel to the ground. In a preferred embodiment, the isotropicallyarticulating member is a spring, and preferably a coil spring, that iscapable of radial, resilient articulation. In another embodiment, theisotropically flexible member is a segment of flexible hose, preferablymade from plastic or rubber.

[0019] A fence material tensioning means, such as a coil spring, is usedto attach a strand of fencing material to at least one post element ofthe gating system. The tensioning means provides flexibility to assurethe integrity of the fence material when the fence is under stress. Thisis to further assure that strands of fencing material in the gatingsystem will not break when the gateposts are articulated.

[0020] In one embodiment, the tensioning means includes at least onespring element connected at one end to a strand of fencing material andon the other to a variable set tensioning means, such as a turnbuckle,which adjusts the amount of tension on the strand. In anotherembodiment, the tensioning means comprises two spring segments having avariable set tensioning means there between. In another embodiment, thetensioning means comprises a spring-loaded pulley assembly rotatablyattached to a post, which can be stationary or articulating dependingupon the use. In accordance with this embodiment a strand of fencingmaterial is spooled on the pulley and held in tensioned engagementtherewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The objects, features, and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent to one skilled in the art, in view of the followingdetailed description in which:

[0022]FIG. 1 is a detailed illustration of a resiliently, radiallyarticulating post element of the instant invention;

[0023]FIG. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of a resiliently,radially articulating post of the instant invention having a segment offlexible tubing;

[0024]FIG. 3 is a segmented illustration of the resilient, articulatingfencing system using the resiliently, radially articulating posts of theinstant invention;

[0025]FIG. 4 is a segmented illustration of the resilient, articulatinggating system of the instant invention within a stationary fence;

[0026]FIG. 5 is a segmented illustration of the resilient, articulatinggating system within a resilient, articulating fencing system using thearticulating posts of the instant invention; and

[0027]FIG. 6 is a cutaway illustration of another embodiment of the endfence post of the instant invention having spring-loaded pulleys forresiliently tethering the fence strands.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, the resiliently articulating fence post 14is comprised of a shaft 26 having, for example, at least one aperture 28adapted to receive strands of fencing material 16 wherein the lower endof the shaft 26 is immovably affixed to spring 30, which allows shaft 26to articulate from a normally upright positions to positionssubstantially parallel with the ground. The shaft may be made frommaterials such as metal, wood, plastic or fiberglass. The spring 30 isresilient, so once the force is removed that holds the shaft 26 parallelwith the ground, the shaft 26 and spring 30 automatically return to anupright position, substantially perpendicular to the ground.

[0029] The lower end of the spring 30 is immovably attached to thetopside of the base 32. The base 32 includes hollow tube 34, whichaccepts stake 36 that is driven into the ground in order to immovablyanchor the post 14 to the ground. A threaded aperture (not shown),formed in the side of tube 34, accepts a threaded shaft 38, attached toan actuator handle 40. The threaded shaft 38 is tightened to engagestake 36 with the actuator handle 40, in order to immovably fix thestake 36 to the base 32. In another embodiment (not shown) base 32 isoutfitted with a one way jaw means for automatically engaging stake 36to hold the base 32 to engaging stake 36. A pair of rigid collars 42 areformed on the base 32 proximate the spring 30. The rigid collars 42 actto guide the direction of the shaft 26 as it articulates up and downbetween an upright position and the ground.

[0030] Referring now to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the resilientlyradially articulating post 114 is shown. In this preferred aspect, thebottom end of the shaft 126 is inserted into the isotropically flexiblemember 134 which comprises a segment of resilient, isotropicallyflexible tubing. The shaft 126 is normally positioned upright in tubing134, and can radially articulate from this upright position to asubstantially flattened position proximate the ground. Since the tubing134 is resilient, the shaft 126 will automatically return to an uprightposition when the articulating force is removed.

[0031] The lower end of the tubing 134 is attached to the topside of thebase 132. The base 132 is immovably anchored to the ground by a stake136, attached to the bottom of the base 132. The stake 136 may be formedwith fins (not shown), so called a T-Post, which make the stake easy todrive into the ground, but difficult to extract from the ground. Theshaft 126 has at least one aperture 128, which is adapted to acceptstrands of fencing material. Three apertures 128 are shown in FIG. 2,located proximate to the top end of the shaft 126, and each aperture 128runs through the shaft 126 perpendicular to the long axis of the shaft126. The apertures 128 are adapted to allow the fencing strand materialto pass there through.

[0032] In operation the radially articulating posts are incorporatedinto, for example, a fencing system as illustrated in FIG. 3. A fencingsystem 10 employs stationary end posts 12 having, respectively,tensioning assemblies 18. The system 10 employing posts 14 allows thefence system 10 to articulate allowing passage of the desired devicee.g. an irrigation device or other machinery, when an external force ofsufficient magnitude is exerted on the fencing system 10. When presentedwith a force sufficient to offset the preset force on posts 14, theseresiliently, radially articulating posts 14 articulate towards theground from their normally upright positions. The strain placed on thefencing material 16 when the shafts 26 articulate towards the ground isreduced by stretching the length of the first and second springsegments, 20 and 22, thus providing slack or “give” to the system 10 toprevent the displaced fencing material 16 from breaking. When theexternal force is removed, the resilient shaft 26 articulates back toits fully upright positions, and the first and second springs, 20 and22, contract to re-tension the fencing material 16, to keep it taut. Itwill be realized that any resilient device allowing for selecteddisplacement and subsequent re-tensioning of the fencing material mayalso be used.

[0033] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown gated portion 344 of theinstant invention of a fencing system represented by stationary fenceposts 312 having strands of fencing material 316 strung between posts312. The gated portion 344 includes resiliently, radially articulating,gate posts 346 having strands of fencing material 316 strung betweenposts such that the gate posts 346 and the stationary posts 312 form afenced continuum. The fencing material 316 may be made from barbed wire,smooth wire, or wire for electrification.

[0034] In FIG. 4, stationary posts 312 are arranged colinearly betweenaligned, resiliently radially articulating gate posts 346. Each fencepost 312 is attached to a tensioning means 318, which is in turnattached to the strands 316. The tensioning means 318, which providesslack to the strands of fencing material 316 so as not to snap the wirewhen the resiliently radially articulating center gating system posts346 articulate, comprises a first spring segment 320 and a second springsegment 322 which are connected at their respective ends by a turnbuckle324. The first spring segment 320 is attached on its other end to theend posts 312 at tensioning means 318, and the second spring segment 322is attached at its other end to the strands of fencing material 316. Theamount of tension on the strands of fencing material 316 can be adjustedby tightening or loosening the tension in the strands of fencingmaterial 316 by means of turnbuckles 324 in a conventional manner.

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a gating system 444 ofthe instant invention within a resiliently radially articulating fencesystem. The fencing system has end stationary posts 412, resilientlyradially articulating posts 414, and gate posts 446 which form a gatedportion 444. Strands of fencing material 416 are strung between theposts 412, 414, and 446. The fencing material may be made from barbedwire, smooth wire, or wire for electrification.

[0036] In FIG. 5, stationary end posts 412 are arranged colinearly withaligned, resiliently radially articulating posts 414, which are in turncolinearly aligned with gateposts 446. Each fence post 412 is attachedto a tensioning means 418, which is in turn attached to the strands 416.The tensioning means 418, which provides slack to the strands of fencingmaterial 416 when the resiliently radially articulating gating systemposts 446 articulate, comprises a first spring segment 420 and a secondspring segment 422 which are connected at their respective ends by aturnbuckle 424. The first spring segment 420 is attached on its otherend to the posts 446 at tensioning means 418, and the second springsegment 422 is attached at its other end to the strands of fencingmaterial 416. The amount of tension on the strands of fencing material416 can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the tension in thestrands of fencing material 416 by means of turnbuckles 424. The gatedsegment 444 employs multiple tensioning means 418 as illustrated toprovide the slack within the fencing system to selectively allow a truckcar or the like to pass over the gated section 444.

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 6, another embodiment of a tensioningmeans, affixed to an end post, is illustrated as 200. As shown, fixedend post 212 carries a series of tensioning means 218 comprising arotatable, spring loaded pulley 220,rotatably secured through theircenter to the end fence post 212 by means of fasteners 222, such as,pins, bolts or screws. Fencing material 216 is fixedly attached to thepulleys 220 and spooled thereon such that the spring-loaded pulleytensions the fencing material. When the strands of fencing material 216come under stress as resiliently articulating center posts (not shown)flex towards the ground, the pulleys 220 play additional fencingmaterial 216 to reduce the strain. It will be realized that the system200 can be used with the gated portion of the fence system in accordancewith the invention. In another embodiment, any resilient device allowingfor the play of fencing material 216 may also be used. When theresilient articulating center posts (not shown) return to their uprightposition, the pulleys 220 automatically “reel” in the slack in thefencing material 216, keeping the strands of fencing material 216 tautalong the length of the fence system 200. It will be realized that thestrands of wire are a matter of preference or use and not limited to aspecific number, material, or method of attachment.

[0038] The flexible gating system and fence posts of the presentinvention have been exemplified with reference to the various aspectsand examples described and illustrated above. By using the descriptionof the present invention found herein, one skilled in the art may beable to design other versions of the flexible fence system, and itscomponent parts, which differ from those illustrated. However, thepresent invention is not intended to be limited to only the describedaspects and examples. Rather, the following claims, and all equivalentsof these claims, define the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A resiliently articulating fence post comprising:a rigid linear member adapted for affixing at least one strand offencing material; a resilient, isotropically flexible member, adopted toyield to a preset force, having a top end for rigid communication withthe rigid linear member and a bottom end wherein said resilient,isotropically flexible member is able to articulate upon application ofsaid preset force such that said fence post moves from a substantiallyupright position perpendicular to the ground to a position substantiallyparallel with the ground to allow objects to pass over said fence post;an immovable base, permanently attached to the bottom end of theisotropically flexible member; and an anchor, permanently connected tothe base, to allow the base to be immovably fixed to the ground.
 2. Thefence post of claim 1, wherein said fencing material comprises, smoothwire, barbed wire, or electrified wire.
 3. The fence post of claim 1,wherein said resiliently articulating fence post further comprises apair of guide walls, attached to the base and positioned between theflexible member and said base, to control the bending direction of thefence post.
 4. The fence post of claim 1, wherein said anchor comprises:a hollow tube orientated approximately normal to the ground; a stake,slidably insertable inside the hollow tube, to anchor the base of thefence post to the ground; and a fixing means, attached to the hollowtube, for permanently fixing the position of the stake inside the hollowtube.
 5. The fence post of claim 1, wherein said anchor furthercomprises: a pointed shaft, having a upper end and a lower end, whereinthe top end is attached to a bottom side of the base and the lower endis pointed to allow the shaft to be driven into the ground to anchor thefence post.
 6. The fence post of claim 1, wherein the resilient,isotropically flexible member is selected from the group consisting of aspring and a flexible hose segment.
 7. A fencing system, includingstationary fence posts having fencing material spanning said posts, theimprovement comprising: a gating system, within said fencing system,wherein said gating system comprising: a rigid linear member adapted foraffixing at least one strand of said fencing material, a resilient,isotropically flexible member, adopted to yield to a preset force,having a top end for rigid communication with the rigid linear memberand a bottom end wherein said resilient, isotropically flexible memberis able to articulate upon application of said preset force such thatsaid at least one fence post moves from a substantially upright positionperpendicular to the ground to a position substantially parallel withthe ground to allow objects to pass over said fence post; an immovablebase, permanently attached to the bottom end of the isotropicallyflexible member, an anchor, permanently connected to the base, to allowthe base to be immovably fixed to the ground; and a tensioning devicefor relaxing and tensioning said fencing material in response to thearticulating movement of said rigid linear member.
 8. The system ofclaim 7 wherein said gating system further comprises: a pair of guidewalls, attached to said base and positioned between the flexible memberand said base to control the bending direction of said fence post. 9.The system of claim 7, wherein said resilient, isotropically flexiblemember is selected from the group consisting of a spring and a flexiblehose segment.
 10. The system of claim 7 wherein said anchor comprises: ahollow tube orientated approximately normal to the ground; a stake,slidably insertable inside the hollow tube, to anchor the base of saidfence post to the ground; and a fixing means, attached to the hollowtube, for permanently fixing the position of the stake inside the hollowtube.
 11. A resiliently rotationally articulating fencing system whichis articulated by exertion of a first preset force and having aresiliently articulating gated portion which is articulated by exertionof a second preset force, the system comprised of at least onearticulating post, such that one segment of said articulating fence iscapable of collapsing to a position parallel with the ground uponexertion of said second preset force which is different from said firstpreset force, wherein said gated portion comprises: a rigid linearmember adapted for affixing at least one strand of fencing material, aresilient, isotropically flexible member, adapted to yield to saidsecond preset force, having a top end for rigid communication with therigid linear member and a bottom end, wherein said resilient,isotropically flexible member is able to articulate upon application ofsaid second preset force such that said at least one fence post movesfrom a substantially upright position perpendicular to the ground to aposition substantially parallel with the ground to allow passage oversaid gated portion; a tensioning means to allow for the relaxing andtensioning of said fencing material in response to the articulation ofsaid post; an immovable base, permanently attached to the bottom end ofthe isotropically flexible member; and an anchor permanently connectedto the base, to allow the base to be immovably fixed to the ground. 12.The system of claim 11 wherein the resiliently articulating gatedportion further comprises: a pair of guide walls, attached to said baseand positioned between the flexible member, to control the bendingdirection of said fence post.
 13. The system of claim 11 wherein theresilient, isotropically flexible member is selected from the groupconsisting of a spring and a flexible hose segment.
 14. The system ofclaim 11 wherein the anchor further comprises: a hollow tube orientatedapproximately normal to the ground; a stake, slidably insertable insidethe hollow tube, to anchor the base of said fence post to the ground;and a fixing means, attached to the hollow tube, for permanently fixingthe position of the stake inside the hollow tube.
 15. The system ofclaim 11 wherein the anchor further comprises: a pointed shaft, having aupper end and a lower end, wherein the top end is attached to a bottomside of the base and the lower end is pointed to allow the shaft to bedriven into the ground to anchor said fence post.